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The Best Homemade Classic Lemonade Recipe

A tall glass filled with bright yellow, fizzy lemonade and crushed ice cubes, sitting on a white countertop.
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Make the ultimate thirst-quenching drink with this easy, fresh-squeezed classic lemonade base. It is bright, tangy, and ready fast for your next summer gathering.

Ingredients

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  • 6 large fresh lemons (for about 1.5 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice)
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 4 cups cold water
  • Ice cubes for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare the simple syrup: Combine the sugar and 1 cup of the cold water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool slightly.
  2. Squeeze the lemons: While the syrup cools, juice your fresh lemons until you have 1.5 cups of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Strain the juice to remove pulp and seeds.
  3. Combine the base: In a large pitcher, mix the strained lemon juice, the cooled simple syrup, and the remaining 3 cups of cold water. Stir well to combine.
  4. Taste and adjust: Taste your lemonade. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more sugar dissolved in a small amount of warm water. If you prefer it tarter, add a splash more lemon juice.
  5. Chill and serve: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to ensure it is perfectly chilled. Serve over plenty of ice cubes. You can garnish glasses with lemon slices or mint sprigs.

Notes

  • For a quick fix, you can skip making the syrup by dissolving the sugar directly into the warm lemon juice first, then adding the cold water.
  • This recipe makes a great base for variations like Peach Lemonade or Pink Lemonade. Add fruit purees or a splash of cranberry juice for color and flavor.
  • To make this a crowd-pleaser for a party, scale the recipe up by multiplying all ingredients by two or three.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://eatableempress.com/classic-homemade-lemonade-recipe/